Azhar Jawaid Bukhari, Andleeb Khanum, Ammar Bhutta, Khalid Javed Abid, Zaheer Alam Mian.
Role of Ultrasonography in Amebic Liver Abscess.
Pak Postgrad Med J Jan ;13(4):165-9.

The clinical features and various investigations of amebic liver abscess (ALA) are nonspecific, and are not helpful in early diagnosis. This prospective descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Surgery, in collaboration with the Radiology Department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore, Pakistan during three years, 1999 to 2002, to know the role of ultrasonography (US) in the diagnosis and management of ALA. All patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ALA who underwent US were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on clinical features, positive serology, US and aspirate-examination. During the period, 57 patients (43 male and 14 female) with ALA, were admitted. Age ranged from 10 years to 60 years (mean 29 years). In 50 patients US was performed; the remaining underwent laparotomy as an emergency procedure. US picked up a space occupying lesion in all 50 patients (100%) and revealed ALA as solitary (84%) hypoechoic lesion in the right lobe of liver (80%), without a posterior wall enhancement, and the echogenicity increasing gradually to that of the normal hepatic parenchyma. The sensitivity of US in this study was 98%. US is extremely helpful in the early and correct diagnosis of ALA; can identity high-risk abscesses and useful in executing therapy.

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